Manchester Pride goes bust with thousands owed in unpaid fees

Getty Images Drag artist Tayce on stage at Manchester Pride in 2025. He has long black hair and wears a brown leather jacket tied around his waist with a thick belt. She stands in front of bright purple lighting with her arms and hands outstretched towards the audience. — Dozens of businesses and artists said they had contacted Manchester Pride to trace payments worth thousands of pounds.

Manchester Pride bosses have thrown the future of one of Britain’s biggest LGBT events into doubt, saying the event has gone bankrupt.

Followed by BBC Newsbeat He said at least one of this year’s leading actors was not paid for August performances.

Dozens of businesses and artists say their demands for payments worth thousands of lira have been met with silence.

The charity behind Manchester Pride has confirmed it has entered into voluntary liquidation, a formal process for shutting down organizations that run out of cash.

In a statement shared with “Pride artists, contractors and suppliers”, Manchester Pride said it was making the announcement “with tremendous sadness”.

“The combination of rising costs, falling ticket sales and an ambitious revamp of the format aimed at challenging these issues has led to the organization being no longer financially viable,” he says.

“We regret the delays in communicating the current situation.

“We were hoping to find a way to continue and, most importantly, support our artists, contractors and partners.

“We are sincerely sorry for those who will now suffer financial losses due to the current situation,” the statement said.

In keeping with tradition, it had announced plans to hold the 2026 event on next year’s August bank holiday weekend.

Equity, which represents entertainers and artists, told Newsbeat that more people had contacted it about money owed after Manchester Pride posted on social media saying it was seeking legal and financial advice to determine the “best way forward”.

The government’s Charity Commission said this “assessment of concerns” about the organizationHe had filed a “serious incident report regarding his finances.”

Newsbeat has also asked Manchester City Council for comment.

Only Pride events in London and Brighton typically attract larger crowds than Manchester

Getty Images Photograph from part of Manchester Pride in 2025. Someone is holding a colorful banner that reads 'Be free, be you.' They wear brightly colored clothing such as red jackets, orange pants, and tinted sunglasses. They are waving a flag in their other hand. The crowd is gathered on the sidewalk and in the street behind them. — Only Pride events in London and Brighton typically attract larger crowds than Manchester

Saki Yew, who appeared on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2024, said she “received no communication or response” regarding her fee.

“He’s gone too far,” Saki told Newsbeat.

“As artists, we are used to expecting money, but many artists are starting to lose hope of getting paid.”

Saki said he usually expected payment to take two weeks for similar work and was disappointed when he “didn’t get anything” from the organisers.

Current financial information on Manchester Pride is not expected to be made public for some time, but official documents report losses of around £468,000 in 2023.

LGBT groups and organizations received some of more than £105,000 in funding from Manchester Pride that year.

The website claims it has contributed over £104 million to Manchester’s economy since Covid restrictions were lifted.

And typically only Pride events in London and Brighton attract larger crowds than Manchester in the UK.

Some parts of Manchester Pride were free to attend, while others ranged in ticket prices from £15 to £200 for “VIP experiences”.

This year’s headliners included former Little Mix singer Leigh-Anne, Nelly Furtado and Olly Alexander.